Newt Gingrich said that he accepts that President Barack Obama is a Christian, but claimed that he's more sensitive to "radical Islamists" than the Catholic church.
"Let's accept he's a Christian in his own light. He went to a Christian church for over 20 years," said the former House speaker on Fox News Wednesday night. "Why is it he's more sensitive to radical Islamists who are killing young Americans than he is to the Catholic church, to Baptists, to fundamentalists, to people who are pro-abortion -- I mean, who are pro -- who are pro-life?"
"I mean, the fact is, this is a very strange presidency," Gingrich said.
His comments referred to the president's plan to require most religiously-affiliated employers -- but not houses of worship -- to provide birth control at no cost to their employees in their health plans.
The remarks came when Gingrich was asked about a National Journal story on how he did not correct a voter who said that Obama, a Christian, is a Muslim in a question-and-answer session.
"You know, that is such total baloney. I was asked by a reporter immediately afterwards. I said of course I accept that he's a Christian," Gingrich said. "The guy didn't ask me a question. The guy got up and stated his opinion. I don't have an obligation to go around and correct every single voter about every single topic. I also didn't agree with him."
GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum also did not correct a voter in Florida in January who called Obama an "avowed Muslim." Former Sen. Santorum (R-Pa.) has said that Obama's policies were motivated by a "phony theology" not "based on the Bible."
Gingrich finished fourth in the Illinois primary behind Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) Tuesday, and has won just his home state of Georgia and South Carolina. His campaign is also officially in the red, having $1.5 million in cash on hand and having $1.6 million in debt at the end of February. However, Gingrich has vowed to campaign to the Republican National Convention in August.